Why Being New?
Being New is not about becoming someone other than who we are. It is about awakening to the wellspring of life that bubbles up anew in every moment and consenting to the transformation that unfolds from within. As we do, we become ever more fully—and joyfully—the people we were created to be.
We believe this renewal is not something we accomplish by striving. It is a lifelong invitation to awaken, to listen, and to respond to the quiet work of grace already alive within us.
Being New is also a new vision for how we live together in spiritual community. The Des Moines Register recently took note of the inclusive welcome offered by the Center in this lovely article.
Our Vision: A Place for Transformation
We believe that transformation is possible—in ourselves, in our relationships, and even in the world we share.
We are sustained by the loving Presence known by many names and recognized within the contemplative streams of the world's wisdom traditions, and by the companions with whom we share the journey.
Here we gather to listen deeply: for the quiet voice of Spirit, for the wisdom carried by one another, and for the invitation to live with greater compassion, freedom, and presence.
Whether through silence, conversation, creative exploration, learning, or time in nature, we seek practices that awaken us to the sacred already present in our lives.
Everyone is welcome.
Our Story
The book group from which Being New first emerged.
Being New did not begin with a strategic plan or a business model. It began with a group of diverse individuals gathering weekly to read a book on contemplation within the Christian tradition and to share the silence of contemplative practice.
When the book was finished, the idea of a center arose organically—a place where everyone could feel at home, whether they belonged to a church, were "done" with church, or had never identified with the Christian or any other faith tradition.
The idea might have remained just that if not for the astonishing generosity of Grace Lutheran Church, which offered both space and encouragement for this new community to take root. Being New opened its doors in the summer of 2024.
What has unfolded since has been shaped by generosity. Teachers have offered their gifts. Community members have shared their wisdom. Organizations have become partners. Individuals have shared financial resources, allowing us to flourish while trusting that what is needed will be provided. New friendships have emerged. Again and again, possibilities have appeared that we could not have imagined at the beginning.
Rather than building an institution, we have found ourselves cultivating a community.
Our Way
We believe transformation grows in an atmosphere of hospitality rather than certainty or judgment. We seek to meet life with curiosity—to “turn to wonder,” in the words of Parker Palmer—and with the beginner’s mind counseled by the Buddhist tradition: open, attentive, and willing to be surprised.
The generosity of the gift economy is woven into the life of Being New. We trust that when people freely share their time, wisdom, creativity, and resources, abundance emerges naturally. A community of eager reciprocity takes shape, drawing us into relationships that may surprise and delight us.
We welcome people from many traditions, as well as those who claim none. Our hope is not to persuade anyone toward a particular set of beliefs, but to create a space where each person may encounter the sacred in ways that bring greater freedom, compassion, and wholeness.
How We Practice This Way
There is no single path into contemplative living. Each person discovers their own doorway. Together these practices create opportunities to listen, to awaken, and to grow.
Listening in nature
Walking the labyrinth
SoulCollage®
Our vision finds expression in many ways:
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Contemplative prayer and meditation
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Spiritual book groups and sacred conversation
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SoulCollage®, sound healing, and other creative practices
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The outdoor labyrinth and meditation garden
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Wild Sanctuary gatherings in nature
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Our spirituality library
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Partnerships that strengthen contemplative life throughout our community
An Invitation
Whether you are taking your first steps into contemplative practice or have walked this path for many years, we hope you will find companions for the journey here.
We invite you to join us as we continue discovering--together--what it means to be made new.